Buttonwood Winery
  1500 Alamo Pintado Rd.
  Solvang, CA.
  (805) 688 3032
  Tasting:  11-5 daily
  Fee:  $5.00 (includes glass)
  Bottles: $10 - $30
  Picnic Grounds

This small winery is in the heart of the Santa Ynez Trail.  They bottle just 5,000 cases each year in a mixture of varietals - sauvignon blanc, semillon, marsanne, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and syrah.  Owners Betty Williams and her son-in-law, Bret Davenport, had a definite preference for Bordeaux and Rhone style wines.  Winemaker Michael Brown also offers a few bottles under his Kalyra label, which is consistently well regarded.  The 99 Orange Muscat is featured in the tasting room and is quite good (and we took a bottle with us!)

During our tasting visit, it was very clear that this winery shines when it comes to their reds.  The 97 Cabernet Sauvignon recently won a Gold Medal in the New World International Wine Competition and at $18/bottle it's an incredible bargain.  Their 96 Trevin also won a Gold Medal and was also quite excellent.  The tasting room features the normal assortment of wine gadgets, as well as wonderful paintings of local artists. 

Directions:  Take the 101 to the heart of Buellton.  Take the 246 towards Solvang.  Drive through Solvang and when you come to Alamo Pintado Road turn left.  You won't have to drive very far before you come to the vineyard on your right.